lost and Found |Taekook|

36. when the past visits

Jungkook swings his legs back and forth from where he is sitting near the sink, on the counter in his and Taehyung's shared bathroom. Taehyung is standing between his legs, fussing with Jungkook's hair. There's a curling iron in his hand and he slowly and very carefully curls Jungkook's long hair into a wavy hairstyle. 

"I wanted to do this for a very long time, the reason why I wasn't letting you get a haircut." Taehyung takes one more strand in his hand and curls it around the iron and lets it do the work. 

Jungkook quite literally slumps into Taehyung's chest. He would have much really preferred dabbing water on his hair to style them and he would have literally picked the very first outfit out of his closet but now he is dating Taehyung which also means that Taehyung is in charge of fashion as he quotes.

Jungkook isn't a fan of going to clubs and partying anymore either (it brings the bad memories back), four years ago he'd have jumped on this opportunity while Taehyung would have preferred to skip to read some web novel at home. He and Taehyung have quite literally swapped their personalities on this matter. Nonetheless, Jungkook is happy mostly because Taehyung looks very excited to go out with others and it's been some time since all seven of them hung out together.

The club this goes to is dimly lit as all other clubs around the area. Jungkook and Taehyung are the last ones to arrive, they do their usual greetings, order a round of beer and sit down in the lounging area. Taehyung is full set on drinking and getting wasted so Jungkook decides to at least stay sober enough to drive them back home.

"We have an announcement to make." Jin clinks his wine glass with the back of his ring to get everyone's attention. Jungkook already knows what's coming, it's obvious enough.

Jin slings his arm around Yoongi to bring him close. There's a visible blush rising over Yoongi's cheek that Jungkook thinks is rare but adorable. "We're getting married in march, on Yoongi's birthday," Jin says, pulling Yoongi closer to him. 

Everyone cheers, congratulating them, "Oh my god Hyung," Taehyung says before leaps towards both of them to bring them into a hug. Jungkook smiles fondly looking at all of them. Slowly all of them pile into a hug over each other for the old time's sake.

A few more shots and chatter later Jimin decides that it's time to go and dance, he pulls Taehyung with him, who tugs on Jungkook's wrist to join him. Jungkook wants to pass but then he looks at the dance floor which is packed with people and just the thought of all the people who would want to get close to Taehyung and dance with him makes him indignant.

So Jungkook gives in and lets Taehyung tug him towards the dance floor. Taehyung is already tipsy and tipsy Taehyung is also very clingy so it's natural when he wraps himself around Jungkook and very so subtly kisses his neck, walking towards the dance floor.

"Taehyung?" Jungkook hears a familiar voice he turns around only to see the man he'd rather not prefer to meet ever.

Taehyung too looks a little bit shocked but he composes himself quickly, "Minho?"

"Yeah, long time." He looks like he's contemplating between a hug or a handshake but then he just stuffs his hands into his pockets.

Jungkook is confused. As far as he knows Taehyung and Minho are friends from back in college, close friends, the kind that you keep in touch with even after college but then why in their 4-month course of relationship Jungkook never heard Minho's name and why are they so awkward right now?

Taehyung tries to mirror his action and stuffs his hands in his pocket but then he realizes that his one hand is holding Jungkook's hand and that fact that Jungkook is standing right beside and he doesn't know about how Minho went from being Taehyung's friend to his boyfriend to his ex-boyfriend to just a mere acquittance.

"Yeah, how are you?" Taehyung asks, adjusting his posture to hide the fact that he is nervous right now. Meeting your ex-boyfriend when your current boyfriend is next to you (and hates) is not a situation Taehyung ever wants to be in.

"I'm fine. You and Jungkook……?" Minho asks, his eyebrows rising skeptically.

"Yes, we're together," Taehyung says quickly and wishes that Minho will leave them alone from here and Jungkook will just magically forget that this conversation. 

Minho scoffs and Taehyung wants to kick him, "Didn't think you'd get back with him after all that." From next to him Taehyung feels Jungkook tense, his grip on Taehyung's hand slacks and he tries to let go, but Taehyung holds his hand tight.

"Doesn't matter, we moved past that." 

"Well I always kinda knew that you loved him more than you loved me, or anyone else." Minho shrugs, a glint in his eyes. Taehyung really wants to kick him right now.

He knows that all the shit Minho is saying is affecting Jungkook, he can practically sense that he is very confused, tense, sad? and maybe a little bit angry. Taehyung can't really pinpoint but he knows it's not pleasant.

As if to defend himself Taehyung snaps back promptly, "I didn't love you." His grip on Jungkook's hand gets impossibly tight as if he is afraid that Jungkook will let go and leave.

"C'mon Taehyung, we were together for what? Like, six months and-"

"That's enough! I'm leaving." Taehyung doesn't let go of Junglooks hand all the time they walk over towards the corner of the club. He's shaking and he can sense his anxiety coming back but as much and Taehyung Knows Jungkook he senses that the latter might be feeling the same. He dares to look at Jungkook only to find him staring back with big eyes.

"Hyung what-"

"I'm so sorry you had to-" exactly what Taehyung should apologize for, for the fact that he didn't tell Jungkook about Minho or that Jungkook had to listen to all the things Minho said back there?

"What was he saying about loving you?" Jungkook finally asks. They're still holding hands and Taehyung is thankful for that because it grounds him.

"We-we used to date in college for a while, after- after you left." This time Jungkook does leave Taehyung's hand, snatches it back.

"And you didn't tell me about him when we were talking about- you know, all the people we dated in the past four years!"

That's right, Taehyung and Jungkook did talk about this and as much as it was uncomfortable for them, full disclosure is a key for a healthy relationship. So when Jungkook came clean about all the people he had been with when he was in America, Taehyung also told him about all the people he dated in the past four years. He just left Minho out, only because he knew that Jungkook would be bitter about it and he really didn't think that he'd ever see Minho again. What Jungkook can't know wouldn't hurt him is what Taehyung thought and apparently, he was wrong because Jungkook right now is not only hurt, he is also angry.

"I left him out because I know you don't like him."

"Maybe if you had spent more time with your boyfriend than with Minho, I wouldn't hate him that much." It really hurt Taehyung to know that Jungkook still holds that over him, but being hurt is no Justification. When he looks back now to the time when they were in college, he does realize that he wasn't a good boyfriend, all the time he was rude to Jungkook, his own boyfriend and bailed on him just to hangout with Minho. He doesn't like how his past self treated Jungkook and he really wants to make up for it but this time it looks like he fucked up.

"I'm sorry. I should have told you about him but I promise I'll tell you everything when we get home. I'm really sorry Jungkookie, I love you now and that's all that matters. Please, I'm sorry." Taehyung takes Jungkook's hand into his own and looks at him expectantly.

Jungkook lets out a sigh, "I guess."

Taehyung gives him a light kiss on the lips and then on his forehead for a good measure.

"Let's go back yeah? I'll tell you everything, I promise." Taehyung repeats only because he wants Jungkook to know that.

"Yeah okay." Taehyung intertwines their fingers and squeezes his hand and sees Jungkook smile at him reassuringly. He promises himself that he'll make this right and hopes that the rest of the night goes well.

And boy, was he wrong about that.